Toothbrush

An integrally molded toothbrush of flexible plastic for an articulate toothbrush comprising a handle, a brush with a separate cover section and a flexible hinge connection between the brush and the handle and wherein:

• a. the handle comprises an elongate grasp, for grasping about the longitudinal axis thereof, and a brush support connected to one end of the grasp, extending away from the grasp generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the grasp and having a generally arch-shaped portion with a leg of the arch-shaped portion proximal to the grasp diverging from the longitudinal axis thereof and having a leg distal to the grasp that extends back toward the longitudinal axis at an acute angle therewith to the axis of rotation of the hinge connection with a brush,
• b. the brush comprises a head having a longitudinal axis that extends, in one direction, toward the grip, the head terminating in that direction at a heel, and, in the other direction, away from the grip, the head terminating in that direction at a toe, and having a top proximal to the hinge connection with the distal leg of the support and a bottom distal to the hinge connection with the support, the bottom having bristles depending therefrom and generally distributed therealong from the toe to the heel of the head,
• c. the flexible hinge connection is between and integrally molded with the distal leg of the support and the top of the brush head at an intermediate position between the heel and toe, the hinge connection is comprised of flexible plastic and has a narrow breadth in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head and a wide breadth in the direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the brush head, relative to the breadth thereof parallel to the brush head, whereby to create the hinge axis of rotation of the hinge connection, the hinge axis of rotation being generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the grasp and to the longitudinal axis of the brush head for relative pivotal movement therebetween within a range of movement extending over a predetermined arc and
• d. the separate cover section is adapted to be secured to the brush head to form a part of the top thereof, the cover section being connected to the toe of the brush head at an end of the cover section extending transverse to longitudinal direction thereof through an integrally molded flexible hinge joint, the cover section having a slot extending centrally in the longitudinal direction thereof from a medial location to the opposed end of the cover section and the cover section being pivotable around the hinge joint with the brush head to engage the brush head and form a portion thereof, with the slot extending from the location of the hinge connection of the distal leg with the top of the head along the brush head toward the heel to receive the distal leg of the support when the heel of brush head is rotated in the direction of the distal leg, whereby to provide a protective recess for the hinge connection and a brace against turning forces imposed on the brush head, during use in directions other than about the hinge axis.

An articulate toothbrush integrally molded from flexible plastic material comprising a handle, a brush and a flexible hinge connection therebetween and wherein:

• a. the handle comprises an elongate grasp, for grasping about the longitudinal axis thereof, and a brush support connected to one end of the grasp, extending away from the grasp generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the grasp and having a generally arch-shaped portion with a leg of the arch-shaped portion proximal to the grasp diverging from the longitudinal axis thereof and having a leg distal to the grasp that extends back toward the longitudinal axis at an acute angle therewith to the axis of rotation of the hinge connection with the brush,
• b. the brush comprises a head having a longitudinal axis that extends, in one direction, toward the grip, the head terminating in that direction at a heel, and, in the other direction, away from the grip, the head terminating in that direction at a toe, and having a top proximal to the hinge connection with the distal leg of the support and a bottom distal to the hinge connection with the support, the bottom having bristles depending therefrom and generally distributed therealong from the toe to the heel of the head and
• c. the flexible hinge connection between and integrally molded with the distal leg of the support and the top of the brush head at an intermediate position between the heel and toe, the hinge connection being comprised of flexible plastic and having a narrow breadth in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the head and a wide breadth in the direction transverse the longitudinal axis of the brush head, relative to the breadth thereof parallel to the brush head, whereby to create the hinge axis of rotation of the hinge connection, the hinge axis of rotation being generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the grasp and to the longitudinal axis of the brush head for relative pivotal movement therebetween within a range of movement extending over a predetermined acute angle arc.